Reviews (page 4 of 14)
A really solid album. What struck me most was how ahead of its time it felt. Must've been very influential.
Singing and musical quality is great but I found myself mostly bored with forgettable songs.
aggressively boring
fuck
Gets more interesting the more instrumentation is used. Still not entirely my vibe.
I’m sure this is a great album if you’re in a certain mood, but I’m not in that mood currently.
alright
That transition to really deep bass, heavier chords during No Name No. 5 is where the album starts to click for me. It's a D chord, that is super recognizable as the lowest chord in drop D tuning. Up to that point I'm pretty ambivalent about the album, but I really dig it from that point on.
I didn’t want to like this at first, but after a few repeats, it’s quite peaceful and enjoyable. Likes: Ballad of Big Nothing, Between The Bars, Rose Parade, Angeles, Say Yes
A great album, definitely one of the best of its genre. If you’ve seen Good Will Hunting you’ll know that many of these songs form part of the great soundtrack to that film, with Angeles and Say Yes especially memorable from the film and album. It’s not a cheery album of course, but it avoids becoming dreary in doing so. It’s being tuneful while having that depressed emotion is its real strength.
As a confirmed fan of sad boys mumbling over acoustic guitars, of course I think this is a really strong lo-fi/indie/folk album. Some tracks (‘Alameda’, ‘Ballad of Big Nothing’, ‘Between the Bars’, ‘Angeles’, ‘Say Yes’) are genuine greats, and most of the rest are pretty good too. Elliott Smith’s strengths were his lyrics and melodies, with the latter providing some counterweight to the former, turning what might have been an emotionally oppressive album into one that while still melancholy and bittersweet, isn’t overwhelmingly depressive. Not quite 5 stars for me, but certainly at the upper end of 4.
Breathy rock, some what grungy. The top song from the CD is a nice change of pace in a playlist and catchy. This feels like an inspiration for Sufjan and other indie artists which came out in the early 2000s
Okay
Sad bastard music. I'll give it a 3, but also don't think this is music that should be dwelt upon for too long.
Similar to my last review for Smith, he's always felt like another person's favorite artist to me and I've never been able to locate my enthusiasm for him as anything particularly special. But he is totally locked in on Either/Or and almost every song on this is beautiful and impressive. A lot of this album has been repurposed for movies or television and when you listen, you totally get why. Imagine any closing moment on an episode of Scrubs, now put an Elliot Smith over it. Was Elliot named after Elliot Smith? We just don't know.
An okay album, I liked Alameda and Ballad of Big Nothing the most.
Nothing special. Forgot how it sounded the next day
Wasn't super wowed by this, but it was really nice background music. I feel like a lot of care went into making this album. 6/10
There’s something kind of comforting and reassuring in really sad music. And Elliott Smith makes it all so beautiful and perfect
weird, this kinda strikes me as emo with a grunge base. The soft vocals work well with the instruments and the tone, all I can picture when listening is driving by a forest on a grey rainy day, and it works!
Enjoyed this more than I expected! Very Sloany
Non mi dice niente
Wow, figure 8 is like way way way way better. Save for the hits on here (which are great), this album is entirely overshadowed.
This is my first time listening to an Elliott Smith album start-to-finish. This is okay, but I feel like it's very restrained and I want it to let loose more.
I think I forgot about this album before it was even over
Either it’s 5 stars Or it’s 5 stars. RIP.
Was he Billy Eilash's voice coach or something?
Yeah it's fine
No
Wowww! Way more energy than I was expecting it’s so good
This was a pleasant surprise. Really good
1997. Philosophy of choosing between pleasure seeking and responsible ethical lifestyles. Title borrowed from the philosopher Kierkegaard. Elliott plays everything on this album. Elliott died of 2 (self-inflicted?) stab wounds.
This was a good one. I feel like if I listened a bunch of times it would move up to a “5” for me
I mean, I didn't expect to see a reference to Kirkegaard on the list. This feels pretty genuine and heartfelt. He's got a good voice and blends the instrumentals well for the style. Good album.
Okay, this is a solid album. Really good song craft all throughout. Sounds good. Some of the melodies made me think of Brian Wilson. A few comparisons to draw there. I enjoyed this one more than Figure 8. It grabbed me.
Finally some real sad boy shit. It's been a minute. I like the music though, meandering tunes with some unexpected chord progressions. Alameda is a toe tapper. The next couple tracks are more folk though, and I like the acoustic guitar and Smith's slightly breathless voice. It's music for quiet moments, rainy days, especially Between the Bars. Pictures of Me is more uptempo, it's a good indie rock tune over a bouncy beat. Rose Parade is pretty good too, and Angeles, even more stripped down with folk guitar and not much else. I dunno - I wouldn't say any of this feels essential for me, but it's a high floor kind of album. No real bad songs. I suspect it would be a grower too. And none of this is exactly revolutionary now, but a TON of indie bands sounded like this for a decade or two after it came out, so I have to give him his flowers. Another musician taken too soon (dead in 2003, aged 34).
I like Elliott Smith's soft, understated style of singing. And his melodies are first-rate.
easily one of favourite albums of all time
Beetje saai
😐
Ahh didn’t know he was on this list. I’m ready but also probably wise to be the right time and place for his melancholy! Don’t think I’ll be anywhere close to being the first or last person to use the word haunting to describe this and it’s really great. Touches something and feels very tender and vulnerable. Excited to listen a second time and I’m not even finished the first. Between the bars particularly stood out as beautiful and Rose Parade. I’m not sure it’s a 5 but it’s close. Listened to it 3 times on repeat and will now probably explore more of his catalogue. Thanks 1001 albums… (4.5)
Easy listening. Have never heard of this artist before, but definitely gives main character energy in an indie film vibes.
so sad so good
Really solid album. I hadn’t listened to much of his stuff prior to this but I think I will keep exploring his other work.
Elliot Smith is one of them I feel I should love but I just like. His music has the tenderness and vulnerability of Nick Drake but is more… grungey? His voice doesn’t immediately click with me. There are songs of his I love but my favourites aren’t on this album. Was going to rate 3 stars but the final track made me push it up to 4. There’s potential I could revisit and love this.
A great listen. Soulful and human. Not a huge amount of range, and I would personally love some stronger choruses. This is pretty undeniable, though.
eh?
lyrics too quiet, not my thing
Booooorrrinnnggggg
brillient
7/10 Decent. A little too mono-paced and single-sounding, but it has a rawness to it that aches with a pain
Not my favourite.
Such a great songwriter. Melodies/guitar riffs are very reminiscent of the Beatles, if they were in a depressive episode.
The American Teenage Fanclub!
beautiful album, really enjoyed it, class
I’m just meh on Elliott Smith
I like Elliott Smith, though probably not to the extent of his reputation.
це 4.5. з потенціалом на 5 після наступних прослуховувань. Рівень пісень високий, тепла меланхолійна музика з цікавим звуком. Іноді було відчуття що це демо-версії чи чернетки, особливо порівняно з гучними роковими номерами. Це точно залишається в бібліотеці
Абсолютна класика, дуже люблю цей альбом і загалом Елліота Сміта.
Bit of a Shins vibe but too slow for me
Amé su voz
STANDOUTS: Alameda, Between the Bars, Say Yes This album is such an anomaly to me. It's depressing as hell (I mean hear the lyrics for yourself they are heartrending), yet the album still feels getting a hug from a loved one after being touch starved for years. The melodies are perfectly melancholic, to the point where it feels impossible for me to listen to this album without at least humming the songs. I think Say Yes, my personal favorite song on the album, exhibits this perfectly. It's a song about hoping to salvage a relationship after a breakup (maybe a bit more optimistic than the rest of the album but still not a happy topic by any means), and Elliott Smith accompanies this bittersweet song with merely a guitar, strumming possibly the most gorgeous set of chords I've ever heard. It simultaneously feels like both a gut punch and a warm embrace, an experience that is unique to Either / Or. In my opinion, there's a decent chance there will never be another singer-songwriter on the level of Elliott Smith. May he rest in peace. 10/10
I thought this album was incredible. I do respect his instrumental ambitions on this record. The song writing track for track is very good. The song writing was definitely the highlight of the record, mixed with raw emotion and kind of Beatles inspired melodies.
Can you whisper and drone at the same time? The other one was better
i mean what can i say............. elliott smith man that you are. epitome of sad indie folk rock
I feel like I didn't give this the due it deserves, and all I really know Elliott Smith is Good Will Hunting (great) and that he's a Silverlake legend (ehh), but this was really solid and I would come back to it. Maybe.
Feel like The Generator is front-loading my favorites and musical milestones for me. In my book, "Roman Candle," the 2nd eponymous album, and "Either/Or" are a towering trio. The first two being some of the darkest folk music ever recorded, with Either/Or being a slight return to a few of the rock elements of Heatmiser. That rock production, more Beatlesque than punk, would return in his last two albums, which I like much less than the early albums. Back then the production of XO felt like a radical shift to me, away from the intimate lo-fi recordings and into full technicolor production, but I now hear Either/Or more like a transition album. Drums and bass feature in most of the songs, layered electric guitars are featured regularly, and there's organ and other instruments in the mix too. "Cupid's Trick" rocks out, Heatmiser style, for a bit. Commentary aside, the songs are great, he's a generational talent as a songwriter. This might not be the album where Elliott Smith broke new ground and changed the direction of music, but it's still a monument. 5/5 Belongs on the list, but the first two albums might be more significant.
This is a beautiful record.
I really enjoyed this one. Had heard “Pictures of Me” and “Ballad of Big Nothing” and liked them, but this album if filled with great little songs, filled with nostalgia and raw feelings. I think it’s his voice that makes this sound subdued when the songs actually rock.
Not sure what to say except I love Elliot smith.
7/10 Melody
Some might dislike his sound, but this is fact: This man has an unbelievable amount of talent in conveying emotion through music. Before I explain why I understand the cult status of this record, I will state my negative opinions first with dispatch. Although utilizing the limited production to make insanely detailed/dense songs is certainly impressive, the overall sound of the album really didn’t sit well with me at first; it’s probably just a preference thing, though. The musicality and atmosphere of this album, however, is truly what made me understand the classic status that it dons. The sheer warmth and consistency that this record offers candidly makes it feel like 30 minutes of gentle hugs. Anyways, great album, would recommend.
Rose Parade “Everyone’s interest is stronger than mine.” Exactly.
Good album. About what you’d expect for an Elliot Smith album, double tracked vocals, melancholy melodies. I hadn’t actually heard this one before, probably prefer basement on the hill but it was still good
I find it hard picking a favourite Elliott Smith record, even when purely looking at his lofi period, it's a tough call whether its Either/Or or self-titled. And yet I'm still happy calling this one of the finest records of the 90s. Dude could work magic with the sparsest of arrangements and bleakest of lyrics.
You hate Elliot Smith? Oh cool. Do you hate rain? Do you hate when the clouds blow across the sky on a fall day and everything is crispy and you feel death behind you a little closer each day and then remember you're own mortality. Death is coming. You will die. And music like this is how we process it all.
First two to three songs were okay, then from there the rest of the songs were masterpieces. Also, the sound sounds raw, straight from the studio, nothing polished.
There were a few songs that were enjoyable, but nothing that I would save to a playlist.
10 out of 10. The songwriting on this is unmatched and you see his influence in everything that comes after Either Or. Elliot Smith is a genius, he has this aura about him, this troubled artist who writes so so well. I love it, this album has only grown and grown on me. Long live sad music.
Tremenda recomendación. Echo & the Bunnymen y Gus Van Sant se encuentran en un álbum que suena como el encierro productivo de un tipo depresivo. Mención especial para 'Pictures of Me' y 'Alameda'.
I’ve heard this before and I own it. The missus is a fan of Elliot Smith, I like him just fine I guess. I don’t think I’ve listened to this or Elliot Smith in almost 20 years so this will be fun. First thing I notice is these are not as depressing as I remember, I think his suicide kinda darkened my view of the songs for a while. The songs without any backing band are a little too tinny for my taste, part of that has to do with his whisper-singing which is detrimental to these songs, but also the low end seems entirely cut out of the acoustic guitar. Luckily the songs with a backing band are more full and his singing voice works perfectly fine here. Altogether, the songs and arrangements are good, production is decent, I like it just fine I guess.
Album 1066 of 1089 Either Or - Elliott Smith (1997) Rating : 3 / 5 As is usually the case with his music, this was a pleasant listen. Elliott Smith has a way of creating a quiet, introspective space without forcing it. The songs unfold gently. Nothing flashy. Nothing loud. Just thoughtful writing and subdued delivery. There weren’t any moments that jumped out and grabbed me, but there also weren’t any that pushed me away. It just flowed along in that familiar Elliott Smith lane - mellow, slightly fragile, and very personal. It’s the kind of album you put on when you want something calm and reflective. It doesn’t try to overwhelm you, and maybe that’s part of its charm. Not over the top, not earth-shattering but just a nice, steady moment spent with a talented songwriter. Sometimes that’s enough.
3,5/5
This felt incredibly familiar even though I don’t think I’d heard most of the songs before. It was a place that felt so welcoming, I think I played through this album more times than anything else so far in the challenge. Elliot Smith truly belongs to the tradition of great singer-songwriters.
Say Yes / Pictures of Me I really like Elliot Smith's vibes, feels somber but also very light at the same time. Like when you eat too much, so much that you feel you'd explode if you eat anything else except a little piece of candy. It's that piece of candy.
zzz
To sad, maybe it didnt Hit me right while in Gym but nothing to remeber for me tbh.
Would have ripped my adolescent heart out. Clearly a masterwork of mood and tone, it probably would hit best during a blowout emotional crisis. EDIT: Didn't grab me the first time through, but have gone back several times since, and it grows on me every time.
Solid folky pop album highlight is between the bars
I only know of the tragedy and not any of the music so I thought I was going to be heading into some sort of pretentious lo-fi indie rock garbage but what a nice surprise this was! This guy can actually write some really good, interesting songs. Definitely need to check out the rest of his discography and to learn more of where he came from.
I know nothing of Elliott Smith beyond the name ringing a bell, always assumed he was an earnest singer songwriter. Pretty much. I didn't dislike it, would have preferred more like Cupid's Arrow.
Was surprised how much I enjoyed, soft and acoustic heavy
Emo sad :( Mjög kósý vinnutónlist sem á vel við snjóinn. Þetta er svona lalala gæti ekki raulað eitt einasta lag en þetta er bara mjög sölid plöt.
Elliot var snillingur. Sorgarsaga. Frábær plata, fullkomin vinnutónlist.
50 + albums in and this is what I was hoping for. An album by someone I’d never heard of that’s really good. Will listen again
I loved his music
I'll admit, I'm listening to this on the bus with my broken headphones,, but this kinda sucks
So whispery. Good stuff just not for me
Absolutely ELITE studying music holy shit. yeah man this is suchba good album, a percectly miserable yet motivating and surprisingly up beat, at least sonically, collection of songs. What the goated. It's real, it's visceral, it's enjoyable.
Generally solid but feels pretty conventional. Say Yes/Angeles my favorites
Speed Trials: i always wished that maybe he would've redone this one some point later in his career, but maybe that would've washed the feeling this song gives away. my 2nd favorite opening track off any album of his (next to Angel In The Snow) Alameda: i spent a while trying to learn the guitar part for this song but it's a bastard to learn, how someone even came up with it is kind of beyond me. i love the album version, but i think i prefer the alternate version, the "here comes the" at the beginning draws me in a lot for some reason. love this track Ballad of Big Nothing: my favorite song ever from him for so long, and i think the third song on acoustic guitar i ever learned (next to let down and no name 1 respectively), i don't know if there's ever been a song that sounds quite like this one does, but if there is one, i need to hear it Between the Bars: maybe one of the best songs lyrically i've ever heard, super fun to play on guitar and a song that got stuck in my head for years. first song i heard from him when i was about 14, but i heard the version on Lucky Three first. Pictures of Me: this song always threw me off for the longest time, seeing how it comes right after Between the Bars. i think over time though, i've grown to love where it is on the album rather than wish it was somewhere else. No Name No. 5: another song that has such a unique feel to it, almost feels more like it should be named 2:45 AM rather than the actual track of 2:45 AM Rose Parade: so fun to play on guitar, big fan of the progression and also the duracell bunny line. hard to pick a favorite from this album but this song could definitely be a contender Punch and Judy: i love the solo and the walk-up riff as well, however this song might be my least favorite on the album. for my least favorite to still be an amazing song is insane though. Angeles: i learned to play this one on guitar (although i still need to practice it more) but this song is just amazing. i love the lyrics, the guitar, the drone, everything about it is perfect to me. i would probably say this is my favorite song on the album. Cupid's Trick: wish he would've kept the lyrics on the vinyl lyric sheet.. 2:45 AM: such a fun riff to play, also not too hard to sing while playing.. Say Yes: also one of the first songs i ever heard from him, this song was probably a huge factor in pulling me into his discography. such a catchy song for a song with no chorus Overall: i am a huge elliott smith fan and so my opinions are likely biased on anything he does but music is subjective anyways! this is one of my all time favorite albums, along with all of his other albums. i wish he could've been around longer to see the impact he has had on so many people who listen to his music. rest in peace. ❤️ p.s for anyone reading who liked this album, maybe consider listening to some of the newer tracks on the extended version of either/or? i figured you out is a really good song.
Indie folk, indie rock, lo-fi, Americana. Worth a revisit.
the "YESS" i verbally let out when this album was generated for today.. i first discovered elliot smith because a girl i had a short crush on in middle school really liked him fav tracks on this album are pictures of me and cupid's trick glad i got to revisit this banger
I am not a fan of bored, drug addled disaffected guys with guitars. I don’t understand the appeal of melancholy especially with vocalists that are so weak they can’t even be mixed properly.
this album was fine to listen to in the background while working, but none of the songs are memorable and nothing really was interesting or surprising
So sad and boring. This is not a world I like to immerse myself in for too long. Smith is never grating though. His voice is very nice and soothing, he’s just kind of a one trick pony. A few tracks here hint at catchiness and excitement and joy, but none ever quite get there- by design. That irritates the hell out me. Of course, art is subjective. But I mean, as with all of his albums, I couldn’t tell you anything about what I just listened to, as it’s all completely faded into the abyss of memory that the brain has determined isn’t worth holding onto. If it weren’t for that scene in the Royal Tenembaums, I don’t know if I’d know the words to any of his songs at all, despite having listened to all of his albums at one point or another.
while this is a tremendous album, it’s hard for me to listen to because it’s so intimate and bare. you are listening to the deepest parts of Smith’s soul which is imo the embodiment of depression. RIP
Der US-amerikanische Singer-Songwriter nahm Either/Or überwiegend im Jackpot! Recording Studio in Portland auf, ergänzt durch weitere Sessions in kleineren lokalen Studios. Das Album bewegt sich zwischen Indie-Folk und Lo-Fi, geprägt von zurückgenommenen Arrangements, mehrspurigen Gitarren und leisen, nah mikrofonierten Vocals. Songs wie „Between the Bars“, „Angeles“, „Say Yes“ und „Alameda“ zeigen seine Fähigkeit, fragile Melodien mit klar strukturierten Songformen zu verbinden. Die Produktion bleibt bewusst schlicht und lenkt den Fokus auf Harmonie und Text. Trotz der Intimität wirkt das Album nie unfertig, sondern konzentriert. Für mich ist Either/Or ein in sich geschlossenes Werk, das durch Zurückhaltung und Konsequenz überzeugt.
Total builder of an album. Killer.
Simple, eloquent perfection.
Ballad of Big Nothing stood out. Such a soft album. Had trouble hearing him sometimes, but then he would speed things up and didn't mind his voice. This is something I would revisit and listen to more of his catalog. 3.5/5
Not my favorite. Not sure what it was, just didn't hit
Like many, I was first introduced to Elliott Smith through Good Will Hunting, and this album perfectly encapsulates what I found appealing about him.
A masterpiece that floored me the first time I heard it many years ago.. and still. A talent that was taken away from our earth way to early.
PERFECT
easy to listen toooo
I was somewhat surprised to see another Elliott Smith album on here, and I must say Either Or annoyed me much less than Figure 8. It has a much less depressing sound and thankfully is only a single album, as a double album of this music would become pretty boring very fast. I like its much simpler, fully acoustic sound, and some of the more "lo-fi" aspects it has. I also enjoyed the vibe of "Say Yes" a lot. While it's nothing groundbreaking in my book, this one's much more solid to me. Favorite Song: "Say Yes"
2026.02.20
It's probably not for me, but I can see how this would appeal to a lot of people. Enigmatic, sad songs sung by a almost whispered voice, set against minimal backing. And made all the sadder by the knowledge that this isn't an act. His life really was that sad. Glad I heard it although I'll probably never listen to it again.
- This is pretty effective sad lo-fi guitar singer-songwriter music. - His voice has a soft vulnerability that is intriguing. - There are really pretty melodies in here -- I like most of the songs on here quite a bit. - Also, this unfortunately reminds me of a problematic ex, but I still like it, so that's a pretty impressive, lol.
Sometimes this dude's whiny vocal delivery works for me, and sometimes an makes an otherwise fine-enough-or-even-good track VERY difficult to get through without rolling my eyes. The problem is that which moments are which along the album's runtime is not consistent. I think it's down to my mood/how much attention I'm paying to what I'm listening to more than anything...
I love Elliott Smith and am deeply grateful I never discovered him when I was in high school because I feel like he would have made me even more insufferable. Even now, I hear a line like "When they clean the street, I'll be the only shit that's left behind" and my fingers itch to scrawl it in the margins of my math notebook. [ELECTROCHEMISTRY] Oh man. He looks so devastatingly *cool* with that cigarette. (Seriously this album cover is like the height of 90s cool. The typewriter font, Heli-Jet hat, monochrome tattoo, cigarette, "fuck you" penned on the wall behind him...)
Elliott Smith is one of my favorite artists (it's always nice when one of those shows up on the list). This isn't my favorite album of his, but I still really love it.
Mope-tastic
Just beautiful...and personally meaningful.
I guess this album was eclipsed by XO, but it is thoroughly gorgeous. Everyone who likes this record seems to associate it with a moment in their lives, which for me was when I moved to Maine and worked alone at home and could play whatever music I wanted all day long, and I think it was primarily this. How did I get anything done? I never knew that he went to Hampshire College, which seems to me to be significant and especially sad. Hampshire needs all the brilliant alumni it can get.
I have a weird relationship with listening to Elliott Smith... Sometimes it's nice, other times it's awful, and most of the time I just don't need his depression overshadowing my own feelings of whatever odd existentialism I've got going on, so I rarely visit his sad and slow discography... But here I am, feeling like I'm not quite in the dimension I am supposed to be in and I find an Elliott Smith album I really appreciate at a 5 star level? Something ain't right.
Top Songs: Speed Trials Alameda Rose Parade Angeles
ES has been my most listened to artist for years. Either/Or was the first album of his I heard, and still my favorite. Easy 5⭐️
nostalgiaaaa. Hard to pick a favorite but i have to say sounds of science
fav songs: ballad of big nothing pictures of me say yes intimate, lo-fi, melancholic 50/100
Not someone I want to listen to on the daily but I like him.
I often find myself enjoying lyrical songs more and this album was full of them. The melodies are simple but captivating. Would listen again.
This album comes with a lot of baggage. Tonight was my first time listening in many years, having cried SO MUCH to this album as a Sad Art Teen. It taught how me to fingerpick, and kept me company sneaking cigarettes behind the dumpster at shitty minimum wage jobs. But I, graciously, don’t smoke or get that kind of sad any more. I didn't cry this listen. Having grown older than Elliott lived to be and uncovered newer, more exotic sadnesses, I guess I'm desensitized to the songs, drawn instead to memories of a different life long gone. It felt a little bit like running into a childhood friend who never made it out of the town you grew up in. Anyway, five stars, RIP. Favorite track: 2006 - Angeles; 2026 - Ballad of Big Nothing
Not for the me I am now. but maybe for the me that was?
All sounded the same, couldn't relate. 2.5/5
Became a fan of Elliott smith because of this site. Figure 8 blew me away when it was allocated earlier. I’ve been through his whole catalog and this is one I return to frequently (although XO is my favorite). Yes he has a rep for the sad boy vibe but his talent as a multi instrument player and songwriter is the real highlight.
This has been the most successful attempt I have made to get into this album. Still though, its not really my thing. I enjoy a few of the songs, but overall Elliot Smith really just isn't my vibe. Its good for what it is, but I'm almost never in the mood for it.
Zoned out a lot. Same tone for the whole album. Kinda puts you to sleep. I guess good lullaby music. Gave it a second go and still the same
Accidentally listened through it twice because I didn't realize it started over. Goes to show there weren't any that stood out
Tää oli ihan positiivinen ylläri. Ei ihan kärkipiateisin yllä mutta sopi hyvin vallitsevaan tunnelmaan. Voisin kuvitella tutustuvani artistin muuhunkin tuotantoon
Tosi pliisua shittiä
Jos joku on muniin puhaltelua, niin tämä. Laulukin jää ihme hönkäilyksi, laula kunnolla saatana. 1/5
Jess nyt on herkkää tulkintaa. Tän jarrun seedeitä on joskus tullut oikein hankittuakin. Uskosin, että tän levyn kun vetää soimaan lonkeropöhnien laskuhumalissa Hotelli Vantaalla vietetyn ehtoon jälkeen ja koittaa pysyä hereillä, niin siin pääsee liikuttuneisiin sfääreihin muistakin syistä kuin siitä, että kerrankin ei tarvi jakaa sänkyä kolmen muun kanssa. Eli vaikka todennäkösesti tää nyt kerää parjauksia muniinpuhalteluista, niin kyllä se on joskus hyvä niihinkin antaa hönkäystä. Samalla voi kehuu, että immersiiviset ominaisuudet on vahvasti läsnä ja paikoitellen minimalistinen lähestyminen kantaa. Loufiin vihaajat tietty saattaa kauhistua kun ei oo kiillotettua kikkeliä, mut so not kuhan tunnelma toimii ja hyppy kulkee. Älbymin päächarru on soitellut kaikki instrumentitkin itte, joten ei oo ainakaan liikaa päässyt muut tuuttamaan omaa tilutustaan sekaan. Päächarru myös koki kovan kohtalon oman kätösen kautta (oletettavasti) rajulla tapaa. Eipä siinä. Viis ja siitä viis. Jos annat tälle huonot pisteet niin mee pimeeseen huoneeseen alasti makaamaan iltamyöhällä ja laita tää soimaan. Sitä en kyllä lupaa, että se muuttaa arvosanan yhtään paremmaks, mut tuleepahan kokeiltua kaikenlaista.
Ei tästä kauheasti käteen jäänyt. Ei nyt mitään ihan sysipaskaa, mutta vähän kyllä kylmäksi jätti. Radioheadia ainakin vissiin on kuunneltu? En varmaan tule tähän enää palaamaan. Mennään kakkosella.
This was fine.
My 2nd ES album of this challenge and I'm afraid, unlike _Figure 8_ this one did little for me. I found it to be very one note and it really dragged despite it's relatively short runtime.
This album is so good, but it hurts to listen to
Pleasant, but nothing special in my opinion. None of the songs stood out in any way, and I found Smith's almost whispered voice too precious to sustain my interest over an entire album.
What's the point of Elliot Smith? Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ Bored ★★☆☆☆ (4/10) Total reviewed : 231 Already owned : 53 Purchased : 12 To buy list : 2 Nope : 164
Este álbum es bien bebo, al inicio no me esperaba que me encantara pero la verdad es que mientras más lo vas escuchando y adentrándote, más te va sorprendiendo, se siente bien kaguai 👅
Ok I'm loving this. I don't always enjoy Elliott Smith, but this album is special. It's earnest and vulnerable like the best of Smith's work, but it doesn't grow tiring or overdone. I really enjoyed this. 7/10
So talented and gone too soon 💔
So once again, here I am finally actually listening to some shit 30 years later. I just never had time for it when this came out or when it was a thing (not that Elliot Smith ever stopped being a thing, but like a thing-thing). I was always like "I ain't got time for sad soft boy suicide acoustic guitar shit right now." And I didn't, but now I do. Like I really do It's better than I thought it would be. It's not like depreeeeeessssing. The whole aura around Elliot Smith is colored by his suicide, but he's more than that, which is the real tragedy, that it isn't simply sad or depressing music, it's much more vibrant and interesting than that. The music feels like a cool creative person you know and like a lot, someone who you enjoy when they come around and think what they say is neat and want to know what they're working on, and you want what's best for them even if you don't know them very well. Really good.
Solid, yet unremarkable to me. Solid one to own, but a little one noted for me.
elliott smith is my favorite artist ever. this is probably my least favorite album of his (his self titled is my favorite ever) but i will treat myself by listening to this regardless
Ultimate emo grandpa, love it.
Not bad. RIP.
I've tried here folks. I've listened to this record while sad, when it's raining, when it's sunny, while high. You get the idea. No matter what my mood, I just don't get this. He has songs on his other projects that I am into, but this one just doesn't do it for me. On the bright side, at least I can tell my therapist that I guess I'm no longer a sad boy.
Phenomenal I will be listening. I liked Alameda
fine but nothing special
Bien ce petit Elliott
Really enjoyed this
This is what happens when a lab clones Paul Simon and forces him to live in LA to develop a sad boy
3/5
I can definitely see the potential, and teenage me would probably have loved this album and plastered her room with Elliott Smith posters. Favorite tracks: Speed Trials, Pictures of Me, Say Yes 3.5/5
Some of the best singer songwriter music to self loathe too
meh once again. too soft give me more oomph please. that being said, say yes and cupids trick were ok
I didn't know this singer/songwriter. Good sound. Very listenable.
not my usual taste but some bangers
Nothing I've heard here sounds new, but it's put together really well. Sad acoustic pop with Beatles-ish lyrics and melodies. It doesn't quite sound like the album art, it's not grungey, his voice has a higher pitch than your typical male. It's not angsty, it's like a delicate assertive melancholia. I can see myself in the mood for light music with very nice production, and potentially thinking back on this effort. 3.2/5
I'm incredibly 50/50 with Elliot Smith's music. I'm totally indifferent to his self-titled album and I love Figure 8. I'm somewhere between with this one. It's a lot more pleasant to listen to than his self-titled, but I prefer his music after he got signed to a big label and got a backing band. There were some hints towards his sound change on this album that I liked, it's like a perfect middle ground connecting his self-titled with Figure 8.
I liked this slightly more than than the other album he has on the list. Neither are particularly great but he's got a soothing voice.
Really good. I have to be in the mood for it though.
I'm not in a great mood to learn to appreciate a new style of music. This guy sounds like a whiner and a lot of the songs have a similar plaintive sound that I can sometimes like (keening), but in this case rubs me the wrong way. Didn't mind 2:45 AM. Not a huge fan.
I don't know what this dude is moaning about and I honestly don't care. Boring. Why are we whisper singing? I hate this.
I bet this guy killed at open mic night on campus.
Occasionally interesting, mostly boring and depressing
I've had a few ones lately that I've been a bit uninspired by. In particular it's the 90s Pacific North West sound that Nirvana generated, that kind of infected everything. It sounds like the Portland climate. Sad and melancholy. It's strange that 90s music was so angsty when the world was going through a pretty good time. Music from the 70s and 2020s is comparatively more upbeat in general, especially North American music and times are worse now than the 90s. I don't know what Kurt and Co were complaining about.
Definitely more my taste lol. Soothing. Relaxing. Chilling. A very sweet and entertaining album.
I’m SAD!!!
gut aber für mich zu monoton und traurig
Listened on the car on a drive to the luminary walk on the lake stating abolish ice. Perfect atmosphere for the cold with my family
Chiar ii fain
3.5 lyssna igen
This is an amazing grunge album it almost sounds like the rules are turned down at time so you can really hear the depths of the music
"New Slang" by The Shins and "Two Headed Boy" by Neutral Milk Hotel were the next tracks that came up after this album ended on YouTube Music for me. They were pretty fitting after this singer songwriter album. It was alright. Enjoyable enough to be solid background music, but not necessarily something that I'd gravitate to play again. 3 of 5
Sad singer songwriter stuff, a bit monotonous
Bit meh
Another sweet album, albeit slightly whiny/nasally. Stripped back with sentiment. Quite enjoyed. Angeles the favourite, but probably because I knew it before. Say Yes also enjoyable.
It's alright, nothing to write home about. I'm not a fan of the windy voice and dissonant vocal/instrumental melodies. I'll give it a 4/10 because I didn't immediately hate any of the music.
I'm of the age to have discovered Elliot Smith due to Good Will Hunting- I immediately purchased the soundtrack and gifted Either/Or to my best friend for his birthday. Cut to maybe 5 years later when he played a show at my University. He couldn’t finish a single song, saying he couldn't feel his hands. It was sad. Some months later, he was dead. There's also always something special about 'transition' records, where an artist is trying new things, boosting production value, etc. In that vein, Either/Or is indispensable, despite the awful snare drum tone on the first two tracks. What were they thinking? I prefer XO as an album, but there's not a bad song on Either/Or. It’s special.
Too quiet for me, didn't find it interesting
Incredible soft alt. Just quietly excellent. Favorite track was between the bars
Hauntingly beautiful songs. Solid 5 Stars.
It’s a 5. Probably a bit higher. It’s just a very humanizing album, that’s all. We’re all trying out here, but we all fuck up, we all feel lonely, we all need some friends, and we all just need to acknowledge that those feelings are normal. Those things DO happen, and you’re not wrong or different for having experienced them. You are human for having gone through it. Music is often a fun escapism, but music that reflects such an earnest shadow back at its listener can be really effective when done right, and this album does it VERY well. The lyricism here is just really strong; I can’t really go track-by-track with it on account of a lot of it hitting closer to home than I’d care to admit, but there’s a LOT of really good, biting & brutally honest lines here that clicked with me well. It also helps that this album’s recording / production feels so homely. There’s nothing overproduced here, nor is there any kind of CD-era fluff or flair. It’s mostly his guitar, his voice & some percussion, and whatever extras arrive with them, they never really overshadow that simple base. Even in his vocals, they don’t feel like they were recorded in a studio, creating a vibe around the whole album that adds to how relatable it all feels. I think it’s an album where the music mostly speaks for itself. It’s certainly one where I can’t type anything more about it, because it did just hit that close to my own thoughts at times. I’m very glad it’s on the list, I think it’s beyond deserving of the acclaim it gets, and I think it’s a very easy 5, if not higher. Just a great album. P.S.: I didn’t realize Elliott Smith died via a presumed suicide in 2003 until I finished the album, which I suppose is a testament to his songwriting abilities. Sure, a lot of the demons he sang about here may have piled up & contributed to his death in some way, but this isn’t an album defined or enhanced by it. It’s an album to take from, to try and feel the struggles he so vividly goes through on each track, digest those feelings, and then do your best to just… lift yourself up & live on afterward. That’s all you can try to do. It’s a tragedy that Chris couldn’t.
Another great entry by Elliot Smith. I really like his style. His lyrics tackle some actual emotions, not just the typical singer/songwriter slop.
Zaista ništa posebno. Toliko ništa posebno da nemam šta reći.
Such a beautiful and haunting album. Incredible. Lovely. Tormented. I Love Elliot.
If I have to...
Fattest and slimmest.
amo muito!!
I cannot believe I did not know about Elliot Smith beforehand. Amazing album, and truly a corner stone on Alt music. Listened to it more than 1x because of the sounds it held. Great album!
56/1089 White guy whose voice keeps cracking: I'm sad! I'm fucking sad! Me: This is dope. This is a good song.
Snooze fest
A very good and consistent sound
Surprisingly I've never listened to this (or really any) Elliott Smith. Maybe not so surprising given the sad boy reputation surrounding Mr. Smith. That said I was pleasantly surprised (3 surprises, no waiting) to find that I didn't cringe my way through this one. In fact I'd say there's probably 25% of these songs I'd choose to hear again.
Never heard of Elliott Smith, I guess i was not listening to radio at the time? Didn't care much on the first listen but let it repeat and felt the groove of it the second time. Really liked it
Great soundtrack for a gray day. This one has grown on my with subsequent listens. At first it was just lo-fi sad boy music, which is a genre I enjoy, but nothing really stood out. Taking a little more time with the lyrics is what sold me on this album. Adding to my rotation.
One of the best.
Came into this not knowing Elliot Smith, other than the wonderful Angeles which is on this album. It's an interesting listen. I really enjoy the production, with the double tracked vocals giving a really intimate feeling. Left me wanting to listen to Sufjan Stevens, who I would speculate is probably heavily inspired by Elliot Smith but has a little bit more warmth. The songs are generally a bit depressing, but carry touches of sweetness and plenty of poignant lyrics. 2:45 AM is another standout and the album closes perfectly, with 'Say Yes' a beautiful bittersweet song which feels more hopeful than what came before it. All this said, even after a few listens, there are a few too many tracks which blend into each other and don't stand out overall. Will look out for other albums by him with interest. Solid 6/10
Amazing!
this is definitely not my style but i can still appreciate it. i think its just too depressing and calm. like i wouldnt WILLINGLY listen to this album but if it was on i wouldnt be too annoyed or feel the need to turn it off immediately. some songs are better than others but some are just too calm and slow.
Grow a pair for god sakes
excelente disco para ambientar escenas melancólicas, aunque no se si es algo que seguiré escuchando regularmente
221223 16:30 4.5
This would play in the coffee shop from Friends. It's a mellow album that gives me an image of a college student trying to pull alt girls. Not my cup of tea.
Idk. Sad boi music. For sad boi music, it isn't terrible.
Isto burazz nisam slušao ceo album nee moguu brree. Poslušao sam par pesma tkd.... Ocena za album 3/5
Love the production on this. Close and detailed.
Un álbum muy triste con algunos temas que me gustaron. Entiendo por qué dicen que era un genio pero no termino de engancharme. Capaz debo escucharlo otra vez.
וואלה הסגנון שלי כרגע. עצוב כזה אבל גם יפה ונחמד ומלנכולי יחסית אבל לא מידי. מעין עצב פשוט כזה אהבתי ועל כן
I really like this album. I think Elliott Smith has such a sad voice, that sounds weird, but it really fit the theme of the album and just made it so emotional and beautiful. Because it's such a sad album, I find it hard to listen to at all occasions, but when I'm in the mood for it's perfect and the best album for that situation.
No... Sorry. I did not like this. You may like it, but this is definitely not for me.
Favorite Track: Between the Bars
Well, not one I can say I've conciously listened to in the past but I definitely know the name. Enjoyed - more American emo indie, can see why the following was so big.
Classique de fou, un de mes albums préférés, son seul problème c'est que c'est putain de déprimant. Mis à part ça, c'est juste sublime, d'une sensibilité all time, ultra touchant c'est exceptionnel.
Listening to Elliott for the first time was a bit of an epiphany for me, many years ago. This is a great record, but not his best for me. Between the Bars and Say Yes could be enough for the record to stand on its feet.
Just gives me pictures of a weird guy mumbling to himself at the end of the bar. Very repetitive, very mumbly, and makes you want to cover your drink. Like cool, you worked out minor chords sound sad. What else you got? And this is his third album? Without subtitles, how can you tell?
Me gustó. Particularmente: - Between The Bars - Pictures Of Me - No Name No. 5 - Rose Parade - Punch and Judy - Cupid's Trick - 2:45 AM - Say Yes
Overall, I enjoyed this album! It reminds me a lot of what I was listening to when I had just graduated high school. Great lyrics!
sad vibes never sounded so good
Casi lloro . Ya lo conocía -solo algunas canciones- pero aún así escucharlo completo me encantó
Boring. Terrible vocals. Hate this.
5 Stars. Don't know if this qualifies as a "new" 5 star discovery for me since I knew several of the songs on here. But the whole album is great, beautiful, haunting.
solid 5
Was feeling pretty underwhelmed by this again, being my third or forth time trying out Elliott Smith. But catching up on his life story, while it shouldn't be necessary, definitely cements his eerie sound. Angeles is probably my favorite. Cupids Trick is a real nice surprise near the end of the album.
Cudowny album, słucham go od dwóch dni na zapętleniu. Jest to na pewno coś, co trafia w mój gust. Być może za jakiś czas wrócę tutaj i edytuje ocenę na 5.
Can't help but feel like I heard this same thing before by a different artist. The acoustic guitar is really pretty. Just kind of feels like the same soothing, somber vibe from start to finish with no deviation. That's fine (and could just be his style), but a couple of times I didn't even realize the song had changed really. It just kind of bored me a bit.
Seeing Elliott live at NYU and then wearing out XO were formative experiences for me, thus I've always been more into the lush arrangements of the major label output, so diving into the album right before that was fun. Great songs!
Never heard of album or band. First song has good background track but not a fan of the vocals. Looking like another generic Indie album. Drums are not good. Almeda has a cool guitar solo but other than that forgettable song. Ballad of big nothing is goofy and generic. Between the bars is at least a change of pace, but still whiny and not my style. Postures of me has some Beatles vibes, but it’s 30 years after the Beatles. It’s dated and just an average song. No name no 5 is more of the same. I at least like the guitar on rose parade. More whiny/quiet vocals. Not a fan of Punch and Judy. Begging for more variety. Angeles is eh. Cupids trick is better. Finally not just a slow whiny song. I keep listening eclectic a great song to come up. It’s not gonna happen. 245 is well written but more of the same. If there wasn’t only one song left I’d bail out here. Say yes is well written too but again sounds like the exact same song as the other 13. Overall Extremly basic album. Don’t waste your time, you absolutely do not need to hear this before you die. 1.4 stars.
I do love a good yearn, but wish the instrumental/production was a little more varied
I love Miss Misery but it’s not on the album. For that, 4 stars. If I had been doing this project a few years ago when I was almost exclusively listening to “sad” music, this album would’ve gone triple platinum in my corded headphones. Today, still excellent, but not going to achieve that elusive 5th star.
Ikke verst! Noe ekstremt sært og goofy, men et par bangers faktisk HØY 3 star
Good stuff.
Between the Bars my beloved <3
初めて聴いた。こっちの方が先だと思うけど中村一義みたいなインディーロックだなと思った。 間違いなくいいアルバムなんだけど自分には刺さらなかった。
It's good but doesn't make me feel as much as expected. There are songs that hit right on the feels still. 3.25/5
Ok
Nice chill album, not particularly memorable for me though.
Beautiful guitar work and a soothing voice. Not my favorite ever, but definitely merits a place on this list.
godt singersongwriter
I had listened to, and rated a couple of Elliott Smith's songs on www.rateyourmusic.com, and given them four stars each, but now that I've heard this album, I would probably have given them five. The album is a haven of peace, with heartfelt, intelligent lyrics and a gentle passion in the delivery. I even like the sparing use of profanity, which only serves to emphasize the feelings portrayed by Smith in his poetry. Another surprise from the project, and another new artist for me to enjoy when I want my quiet time.
Rustgevende achtergrondmuziek
Heel aangenaam
I like him, but I'm still figuring out how to love him. 3.5/5
elit smit
Good
i already listened to this but it's fucking amazing 10000000000000000000/10
Mid mid mid boring everything sounds the same
Boring. A 2.
Unbelievably bland
Mid at best
Its oke
This album, his most Angeleno, was important to me around the time I was 25, living in Echo Park in a small apartment right down the road from the last home ES lived in (and where he died). I had just gone through a monumental break up but was still living with my ex because neither of us could afford our own place yet. It was maybe the loneliest period of my life. I spent a lot of time by myself with my headphones on wandering around LA on foot and I often went out of my way to walk by his house as a type of pilgrimage. I had very little in my life to comfort me at that time except for this music. Now, when I listen back, I'm struck by how many of the songs express a ground-level view of LA; it's like ES wrote half the songs after he took his own walk around the city. It's hard to express how grateful I am for this record.
Mostly pretty boring, generic pop-rock
I liked it. It felt kinda punk-y, though I don’t know that that’s how others would describe it. I’d say like a slightly more punk Oasis. It’s like music for when you’re a little down and want something on your level
Dit was erg mooi. Ik hou er van.
Een van mijn favorieten. Echt zonde hoe het met hem is afgelopen...
i fucking love this album 100000000/10
When whispering your faux teenage angst is the M.O.
A sad, sad man who made sad, beautiful music. What always amazed me most was he managed to stab himself TWICE in the heart with a steak knife. Once is enough, imagine the mental fortitude it would take do it twice. Aside from that, great album. ¨Between the Bars¨ could be one of the best songs ever written by Elliot Smith.
Ka was ich schreiben soll. Between The Bars aufjedenfall starker Song. Sonst nicht so meins
Honestly this wasn't as bad as I expected it to be
I can understand why this is an important album to a lot of people, but largely the album doesn't do a lot for me. Angeles and Cupids Trick are the standouts but Rose Parade especially is a real drag. Lyrically Smith is interesting but, other than two songs mentioned above, there's nothing overtly dynamic about him musically that really stands out to me. I think my big issue is that I just find it kind of boring? On first listen I panned it but revisited thinking there was something I was missing - went from a 2 star to a 3 star.
all the songs were pretty chill. would listen when relaxing or drawing
Great album. Songwriting is next level and the acoustic guitar is some of the best.
Mainly calm and quiet with very heavy lyrics. The first time I listened to Elliot Smith, I didn't like his voice, but after listening to him a couple more times, it has really grown on me and fits his music really well. This was my second or third time listening to this album.
Speed Trials is a good intro track to the album Alameda is good! Ballad of Big Nothing is okay Between the Bars is good! Pictures of Me is okay No Name No. 5 is good in its own way! Punch and Judy is good slow song Angeles is good! Nice a melodic, simple guitars It's pretty good
Where was the Goodwill Hunting song? That’s all I wanted hear. This is lame college guy music. This is what you listen to when you start to branch out on your music taste. You start with the subtly cool Elliott Smith, but then quickly realize it’s not that good, and if you try too hard to like it, you might be gay.
There are a lot of shows I regret not going to but Elliot Smith is one that I was on the fence on but drove the hour and half to a sold out show and was able to get tickets from someone who had extras for $25, which was a lot for a concert at the time. This is one of the Elliot Smith albums I tend to gravitate to, with the other being From A Basement On A Hill and an easy 5 star
Elliot Smith is a conflicting one for me. I only discovered his music last year, after learning how many of my favourite artists attribute Smith as a great inspiration - Phoebe Bridgers, Big Theif, Clairo. Despite this, I don't find his music as easy to listen too? I wonder if I’d grown up with it, would I resonate more? At this moment in life, I find it almost unrelatable and too angsty to really enjoy. That said, perhaps his musics isn't to be enjoyed as such. The rawness of his lyrics are parallel to his life - understanding more about his background was interesting and adds depth to the melancholy lyrics…art that makes you think. Clearly I just hate thinking.
What a great album, starts off a bit slow but really gets into a groove, 2 great songs on this album surrounded by some very solid bits of song writing. The quintessential singer/songwriter record
3.5
4/5 one that can grow on me over time
Another favourite of ‘uncut’ magazine. Americana singer songwriter that to my ears doesn’t really stand out from the rest.
Decent background music, nothing groundbreaking
personal taste of course but prefer Elliot smith stuff without the band, feel like it distracts from the rawness/vulnerability of the songs. Also the drum sound is objectively bad (snare sound is gross, especially in tracks like Alameda). That aside I enjoyed plenty of stuff on here- I preferred the second half from “No Name no 5” onwards. Favourite track probably the closer “Say Yes”. Some of the Melodies across the album are lovely- and he’s got a great thing of throwing in a certain chord or a lyric that really pulls you into the song
Rose Parade e Cupid's Trick foram as músicas que mais gostei. Muito provavelmente, não voltarei a visitar este álbum. Achei monótono, chato. Não odiei, não é um 1/5. Para um álbum com apenas 36 minutos sinto que demorou 1 hora ou mais, porque nunca mais acabava.
Not my thing. Not sure why it was such a critic's darling, either. "Rose Parade" is the best track IMO but that's not saying much.
OH MY GOD HOLY SHIT WOW WHAT A FUCKING TREAT
Not a massive fan, like the music it inspires tho
me sad
This is the only album ever. 6/5 Favorite Tracks: Say Yes, Between the Bars, Ballad of Big Nothing, Angeles, Pictures of Me
It was good but a little too melancholy for me
I like this opening - the tinny hollow drums are a standout. Vocal delivery is cool...different, doubled up vocals are very effective. This sounds like something I would hear in those 2000s TV shows/movies. Not bad at all. Ballad Of Big Nothing was decent, unexpectedly enjoyed it. Between the Bars is such a good song, LOVE IT, seems to be a very popular song now I know why lol. Picture of Me feels like British ska, unexpectedly really enjoyed it - there are so many movements in it they work so well. loving the production choices on No Name No. 5 - sounds very intentional and just works. I underestimated the lyrical potential halfway through - overall it's quite strong actually. Punch and Judy as a title?! I'm SOLD :). Say Yes is a great ending - hearing that it is one of the songs included in Good Will Hunting alongside Between the Bars (NO WONDER) makes sense. After some quick research on who Elliot Smith was it is clear in his music and writing how introspective he was such a loss but also such a talent. Fav song/s - Between the Bars (100%). This album was a good experience 7/10
Deilig og beroligende! Må høre bedre på teksten merker jeg. Fint å høre på. Veldig godt når jeg lowkey hadde migrene! Hørte gjennom hele greia 2 ganger på rad liksom
I listened to this album so much when I was 16 that it would be a betrayal to not give it a 5.
Solid Sadboy hour music. I would have jammed this in 2019. Also cool that it was in good will hunting, great hit movie.
I don't remember Good Will Hunting enough to be into this.